For as long as I can remember I've had a fondness for books. Even as a teenager one of my favorite activities was to grab a book and head to a quiet spot and spend the afternoon with Nancy Drew or the Hardy Boys or the Power Boys on some wondrous adventure.
One of my favorite childhood memories is of my mother reading to me from the children's Bible she had as a child. I still remember the dark blue cover and the illustrations inside. Originally they were black and white sketches, but Mom, (who is quite an accomplished artist) had taken many of the drawings and colored them. To my young eyes these colors delighted me and brought the characters to life and the stories of Daniel, Moses and Jesus became real to me.
I owe my parents a great debt. Through these stories I learned of my Savior, Jesus. Through these wonderful stories I was given the gift of the legacy of Jesus Christ. Through these stories the foundation for my faith was laid. I was given the greatest gift any person could give to another – knowledge of the Savior of the world.
Unfortunately, the world is filled with people who have never even heard of Jesus. The world is filled with people who have never had the legacy of Jesus Christ passed on to them. The world is filled with people who are dying, empty inside, because no one has shared the love of God in Jesus Christ with them.
While Jesus was on earth he constantly shared his love with everyone who would listen. Family, friends, acquaintances, religion leaders, even prostitutes and tax collectors; Jesus told them of his love. Before he ascended he passed this baton on to us, his followers. He gave us both the privilege and responsibility of passing on his legacy of love (freely you have received, freely give (Matt 10:8)).
Perhaps we're shy, or are extremely quiet people, but many Christians seem to have difficulty with Jesus' command to “make disciples of all nations.” (Matt 28:19). I believe that most Christians want to share the most important treasure we possess (Jesus), but for some reason we can't seem to get beyond our fears. Something holds us back.
God has placed the future of the Church in the hands of his people, in our hands. He has placed his legacy in our hands. The decision and the responsibility to share the “pearl of great price” is ours. Will the legacy of Jesus that we have been given be passed onto others or will it end with us?
I once heard an Irish priest deliver a wonderful sermon on sharing Jesus. Near the end of the message he took off his vestments revealing these words on his tee shirt, “Just Do It!”. As the Body of Christ, let's agree to “Just Do It”. The simple message of Jesus' love will transform our communities.
I encourage you to push through that which keeps you from fulfilling Jesus' command. Take a step of faith. When we dare to step out of the boat, when we dare to put our faith on the line, God always shows up and our Christian life becomes a wonderful adventure. Let's pass the legacy of Jesus on to the next generation.
Shalom,
Jim §